Bon Jovi

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Bon Jovi

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Bon Jovi (self-titled debut 1984). Although this is Bon Jovi's first studio album, it is really a collection of songs that he and his band wrote from 1980-1983, and then released in 1984.

For the most part when you hear about Bon Jovi, fans will swoon over his Slippery When Wet(1986) album, Crush(2000), or pretty much anything else that BJ has written post 1986. Few fans will ever bring up his phenomenal debut album due to his first hit "Runaway", and even fewer fans will mention, let alone commend the masterpiece 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit(1985) album.

Like I stated above, the debut is not a single year studio album, but rather a studio album of various songs written from 1980-1983. Why does this collection prove to be a strong one? Here's the scoop:

1) Runaway- A fast and catchy rocker which saw some attention back when it came out. You can tell that Bon Jovi was definitely in "hungry-mode" here. 10/10

2) Roulette- Probably the heaviest track on here. Not very catchy, but good emphasis on the guitar playing makes this one a very respectable number. This track gets better with each listen. 9/10

3) She Don't Know Me- A mid-paced anthem with its main emphasis on the piano playing in the verses and a catchy chorus. Excellent. 9/10

4) Shot Through The Heart- THIS ALBUM'S MASTERPIECE TRACK. Starts out slow in the beginning and then turns into an all out rocker while remaining consistently melodic throughout the song. A personal favorite of mine. Very underrated in the context of BJ's work. 10/10

5) Love Lies- A slow, driving, and melodic rocker all in one. Some say that this song is a semi-ballad because of the fact that this is the softest track on here. I would have to agree agree, and it's an outstanding one at that. 10/10

6) Break Out- Heavy and anthemic with a nice backing keyboard line. Sort of hints at BJ's future albums. Great arena rocker. 10/10

7) Burning For Love- One of the faster tracks on here, Burning is another personal favorite of mine. Very catchy and it contains a very pleasing guitar solo. 9/10

8) Come Back- Another great fast rocker with a good solo. Not as noteworthy as some of the others, but it definitely has its strong moments. 8/10

9) Get Ready- The third fast rocker in a row, and the one to perfectly close the debut album. Piano takes the place of the keyboards for this one. The backing vocals during the chorus really makes this song work. 9/10

All that's said and done, the debut album was and still is today a solid start for BJ. It may not have had the sales and successes of Slippery When Wet, New Jersey(1988), and Crush, but it's just as equally strong, if not better in terms of quality. I would even have to say that the debut is just as strong as 7800, though the latter is still my personal favorite. As another reviewer mentioned, if you want to hear some good BJ but are not concerned with only hearing the big hits, then the debut album is a perfect choice to go with. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Most of us know that groups come, and groups go. While this is not Bon Jovi's best record, it to some extent shows why Bon Jovi is still here to tell his tale over 20 years later. Some people who don't like him say that Bon Jovi is commercial oriented. I'll admit that is true to some extent. But the real reason he is still here to tell the tale over 20 years later is because the man CAN write songs; he CAN sing; and he DOES put honest work and effort into his records. While Bon Jovi would get heavier and more intense (at least for awhile), the fact that this record has only a moderate intensity shows that he DOES have musical abilities, and he DOES NOT need to hind under excess noise. The 1st half of the record has a sad (but energetic) tone. 'Runaway' is a catchy opener. 'Roulette' demonstrates some of guitarist Richie Sambora's talent, and almost carries a haunting tone. 'She Don't Know Me' releases the tension for a moment; 'Shot Through the Heart' and 'Love Lies' may sound clicheish, but somehow Bon Jovi is able to break the odds and restore the tone of these songs to 'pre cliche' levels. 'Breakout' changes the tone of the record to a more upbeat level. 'Burning For Love' and 'Come Back' continue this path, and 'Get Ready' ends the record on a happy note. It is interesting that while the record starts on a sad note, Bon Jovi is able to change the tone without seeming abrupt. Again, while this may not be his best record, it demonstrates his abilities quite well and explains why he is still here over 20 years later.